Recent price forecasts from BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, highlighted notable market trends in mainland China’s lithium market. BMI revised its forecasts for China lithium carbonate to $20,100 per ton and lithium hydroxide to $19,600 per ton following solid upward momentum that began earlier this year. While prices are projected to drift lower in the second half of 2026, robust demand from battery energy storage systems (BESS) should buoy the lithium market.

These domestic dynamics in China carry direct implications for global clean energy portfolios, particularly the Amplify Lithium & Battery Technology ETF (BATT), which maintains an over 30% country allocation to China (as of June 30, 2026).

Key Takeaways:

• BATT provides full value-chain exposure across battery metals, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle production to help investors manage raw material price volatility.
• While global electric vehicle demand growth moderates, expanding grid-scale battery energy storage systems offer a stabilizing price floor for lithium suppliers.
• The fund balances this supply-chain dynamic by anchoring its portfolio in dominant global industry leaders. That includes major allocations to Tesla and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.

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China’s NEV Dominance vs. Moderating Demand

If there’s one enduring trend that’s ubiquitous on a global scale, it’s the increasing demand for electricity. China continues to lead global electrification, with domestic New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales expanding by 23.6% year-over-year in June 2026 to reach 1.6 million units. NEV penetration touched a record 58.5% of total new car sales for three consecutive months, signaling a transition into a mature demand phase.

However, moderating global demand tempers this short-term trend. BMI anticipates global lithium demand will expand by 5.8% year-over-year in 2026, which is a notable deceleration from 18.5% in 2025, as global passenger electric vehicle (EV) sales growth slows to 3.9%. Concurrently, global lithium production is forecast to rise by 13.2% in 2026, primarily driven by output in Australia and China. These countervailing dynamics are keeping lithium prices caught in a game of tug-of-war between strong storage demand and persistent oversupply concerns. On the other hand, it creates opportunities for investors in the lithium market and, more specifically, BATT.

BATT Positioned Across the Value Chain

For investors navigating these regional supply-demand tensions, single-commodity exposure to raw lithium can introduce extreme price volatility. BATT offers a broader structure by tracking the EQM Lithium & Battery Technology Index, which gives investors diversified value-chain exposure across three primary segments: battery metals and materials, battery storage solutions, and EV production.

BATT’s allocation to battery metals & materials provides direct exposure to lithium producers benefiting from stabilized price floors and expanded global mining projects. Second, the fund’s positioning in battery storage solutions captures rapid growth in grid-scale energy storage, where lithium iron phosphate batteries maintain over 90% market share in BESS applications. Finally, its investment in EV production capitalizes on long-term EV adoption alongside industry heavyweights like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd. This company is actually the second largest holding (a 6.74% allocation as of August 18, 2026) with Tesla being the largest (a 6.82% allocation).

By combining direct exposure to China’s dominant battery manufacturers with a diversified global framework across metals, storage, and EVs, BATT allows investors to participate in the country’s expansive lithium market while insulating capital from pure raw-material price swings.

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VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”) is the index provider for BATT, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, BATT is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi, and VettaFi has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of BATT.